Those closest to him all seem to be in agreement — the new Kelly Pavlik looks a lot like the old Kelly Pavlik.

The one that, as a middleweight champion, was on top of the boxing world.

“He has that twinkle in his eye again,” said Michael Miller, his San Antonio attorney.

The question now is, how will it all translate to the ring?

In his first fight in almost a year, Pavlik (37-2, 32 KOs) is scheduled to meet Aaron Jaco (15-2, 5 KOs) tonight as part of an eight-bout card at the Alamodome's Illusions Theater.

Once one of the biggest names in the sport — fueled by his Midwest roots, humble demeanor and knockout power — Pavlik is fighting to revive a career that was nearly KO'd by a battle with alcohol.

Today, armed with a new trainer and a new outlook, Pavlik says he has put his demons to rest. He hasn't fought since a 10-round majority decision over Alfonso Lopez in May in which Pavlik appeared rusty.

“I know this is my second chance and probably last chance,” he said. “So I've got to make the best of it.”

Pavlik says he has a hunger for boxing again.

“It doesn't seem like a job any more,” he said during a media session Thursday at “Jesse” James Leija's ChampionFit Gym. “I'm having fun again, like I did early in my career.”

Part of the reason, he says, is his new trainer.

After spending his entire career with Jack Loew, the fighter, his father and manager Cameron Dunkin met with officials from his promoter, Top Rank, in New York last fall.

They decided Pavlik would leave his hometown of Youngstown, Ohio, and relocate his camp to Oxnard, Calif., to begin working with Robert Garcia, who trains such fighters as Brandon Rios and Nonito Donaire.

“It was a hard decision to make, but one that had to be done,” Pavlik said.

Pavlik apparently has brought his drinking under control, too.

Since losing his middleweight title to Sergio Martinez in April 2010, Pavlik has had two stays at a Betty Ford Center for alcohol rehabilitation.

Thursday, Pavlik said he has been sober “for a while,” but declined to elaborate.

Miller, who co-managed Leija's career, said he knows that alcoholism is an ongoing battle. Three of Miller's siblings are recovering alcoholics.